Honor flight, quilts say thank-you to local veterans

Members of the Threadbears Quilters Guild pose on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 in Sherrill with quilts they created, which will be given to World War II veterans as a remembrance of their trip to Washington, D.C.
JOHN HAEGER-ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH @ONEIDAPHOTO ON TWITTER

On Saturday, a group of area veterans traveled to the World War II Memorial, the USAF Memorial, the USMC Memorial, the Korean and Vietnam War memorials, and Arlington National Cemetery.

The trip was made possible through the Honor Flight Network, formed in 2005 to transport veterans at no cost to Washington, D.C. as a thank-you for their service.

Honor Flight’s current focus is WWII and Korean War veterans, as well as those from any conflict with a terminal illness. Honor Flight Syracuse conducted its inaugural mission in October 2012 for 27 veterans and Mission 2 in October 2013 for over 60 more.

Upon their return to Syracuse, the veterans were to receive individualize hand-made quilts courtesy of local quilting group, the Threadbears Quilters Guild.

Advertisement

Members of the Guild decided at a meeting in the fall to support the veterans by making a quilt for each participant as a remembrance of their trip.

“We feel that it’s the least we can do to support these wonderful individuals. It’s a win-win: we get to do something we love to do and show our appreciation at the same time,” said Lorraine Howerton, a guild member.

The quilts will be handed out at the airport. The Guild made 85 quilts, but only needed 65. Work on the quilts started last year, and for Howerton, it takes her about 20 to 25 hours to make each quilt.

“I am very proud of all the ladies for coming through” on this project, Howerton said.

“Nationally, over 100,000 veterans have traveled to Washington, D.C. via 137 Honor Flight hubs in the US,” said Jeff Bastable, Honor Flight Syracuse board member. “Each of us is committed to giving our veterans the honor they have so earned. Honor Flight, entirely volunteer driven, provides veterans no cost trips to visit the memorials and share memories with other veterans.”

“Our last mission was during the Government shutdown, with several monuments blocked off,” noted Bastable. “It was an amazing moment to see our veterans break through the barriers to get to the Iwo Jima Monument. These veterans have seen so much in their lifetime; these monuments truly belong to them and their commitment. At Honor Flight Syracuse, we are all honored to bring this new group to our nation’s capital.”

For more information, visit: www.honorflightsyracuse.org

The Guild is supportive of various groups within the area. They are members of the NYS Consortium, which comprises many of the guilds in the state. Each year there is a focus on a specific group the consortium supports by making quilts.

Threadbears is currently making quilts for live kidney transplant donors and recipients at University Hospital in Syracuse. The Guild is based at St. Helena’s Church in Sherrill.

About the Author

Jolene Cleaver is a staff writer at the Oneida Dispatch. Her coverage focuses on crime, government and community events. Reach the author at jcleaver@oneidadispatch.com
.